An Ancient Greek idea could foil Brexit’s democratic tragedy | Nicholas Gruen

Given the chance to think on each others' views, we become more tolerant: a citizens' assembly is how to fight illiberalism

There's a chasm between the will of the British people as expressed in their 52% vote for Brexit and their considered will. It turns out that ordinary Britons deliberating with their peers think things through, "unspinning" much of the surrounding media hysteria.

In late 2017, a group of universities selected 50 people by lot to be representative of ordinary Britons in a "citizens' assembly". Between the referendum and the end of two weekends spent deliberating on Brexit, a group exemplifying the referendum's 52:48 Brexit vote had swung to 40:60 against.

The tragedy of Brexit doesn't concern Britain's economy but rather its democracy

A hard Brexit would take Britain out of the EU's single market and customs union and ends its obligations to respect the four freedoms, make big EU budget payments and accept the jurisdiction of the ECJ: what Brexiters mean by "taking back control" of Britain's borders, laws and money. It would mean a return of trade tariffs, depending on what (if any) FTA was agreed. See our full Brexit phrasebook.

Related: Citizens UK makes Westminster's politicians face power of the people